Pipe-gripping means for rotary well-drilling rigs



March 17, 1931 J BLAcK 1,796,500

PIPE GRIPPING MEANS FOR ROTARY WELL DRILLING RIGS Filed Feb. 15 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 I 2 J gwuentoz Z4 Lea JBZaok March 17, 1931( J. BLACK PIPE GRIPPING MEANS FOR ROTARY WELL DRILLING RIGS Filed Feb. 15 1930 gnw'ntoc Lee Jfilao k 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 LEE J. BLACK, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS IPIPE-GRIPPING MEANS FOR ROTARY WELLJDRILLING RIGS Application filed. February 15, 1930. Serial No. 428,733.

This invention relates to means for gripping pipes for use in rotary well drilling rigs and particularly to means of this character in which slips are provided, each slip consistof a plurality of segmental jaws. The pr sent invention relates to means for engaging these jaws. with each other so as to form a sectional slip consisting of a. plurality of jaws movable unitarily into and out of the usual bowl of the rotary and means for connecting a handle to certain of the jaws so that the slip may be raised or lowered as a unit.

The general object of the invention is to provide means for engaging the'slips with each other which is of a very simple character, which permits the slips to be readily detached from each other and replaced, if necessary, which provides for a certain amount of relative movement between the slips, and which enables the slips to be readily handled.

Other objects will appearin the course of the following description. 7

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a slip constructed in accordance with my invention, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3; V

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the slip with the handle removed;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereof. Referring to these drawings, indicates the individual segments of which the slip is composed. As illustrated, the slip is com- A posed of four segments. I do not wish to be limited to this. Each segment 10 has'side walls 11, a top wall 12, a bottom wall 13 and a front wall which is preferably toothed as at 14: in Figure 2. Each segment 10 has its top wall 12 formed adjacent each side wall 11 with an upwardly extending rectangular wall 15 which is approximately U-shaped in plan as shown in Figure 3 and defines an opening 16 extending downward into the slip. The bottom wall 13 is also formed with a downwardly extending flange or Wall 17 U-shaped in plan as shown in Figure 4 which defines an opening 18. The side walls 11 at their upper and lower ends are reduced in thickness as at 19.

For the purpose of holding the slips in engagement with each other, I provide U-shaped clips 20 which are adapted to be dropped downward through the opening 16 and over the upper ends of the reduced portions of the side walls 11 as shown in Figure 1. Each clip 20 is circular in cross section as shown in Figure 2 and each leg is transversely apertured at its lower end for the passage of a cotter pin 21, the cotter pin having such length that the head and bifurcated. extremity of the cotter pin will extend beyond the inner face of the opening 16 as shown in Fig.2 thus preventing the clips20 from being pulled upward after the cotter pin is put in place. i

The lower ends of each pair of jaws or segments 10 are held together by means of a U-shaped clip 22 of the same form as the clip 20, but smaller, each leg of each clip being also provided with an a erature forthe passage of a cotter pin 23 which extends across the upper end of the respective opening 18 and prevents the clip from dropping out or being withdrawn accidently. These clips 20 and 22, it will be seen hold the jaws or segments 10 in conjunction with each other, but somewhat spaced apart as shown in Figures 3 and l. For additionally preventing the clips 22 from dropping out of the openings 18, I provide blocks or filling pieces 24 in the lower ends of the openings 18, these being held in place by transverse pins, rivets, bolts or other like instrumentalities designated 25. The upper clips 20 can also be held in place within the openings 16 by means of blocks or filling pieces 26 through which pass bolts 27 these bolts being held in place by the c0tter pins 28 passing through the projecting instrumentalities of the bolts as shown in Fig- .ure 2. Where it is desired that a handle be used, as for instance, at the middle of the slip formed by the four segments or aws 10, the blocks 26 may be provided with upstanding perforated lugs 29. Through these lugs passes the "bolt 30, and mounted upon this Elli bolt is the eye 31 of a handle 32 as best shown in Figure 2. This eye 31 of the handle is formed with an outwardly projecting tangential nose 33 which when the upper end 01" the handle is lifted, bears against the adjacen wall 1.5 of the aperture 16.

It will thus be seen that when this handle is lifted up, the connected jaws which form the slip may be lifted up as a unit.

It will also be seen that when the nose 33 stri the wall any rotation of the handle in this direction will be stopped so that the handle is to this extent and at this time practically rigid with the aws or slip so that the slip may be turned as a. unit.

It will be seen that there will be a slight radial and vertical movement of the s ctions relative to each other, dependin upon the closeness or lack of closeness of the lit of the clips and 22 within the openings 16 and 18. The handle may be attached to any of the slip sections or jaws or more than one handle may be attached to a slip section. By reason of the fact that the cligs 20 and 22 circular in cross section, the jaws will have swinging movement in a horizont l plane with reference t each other to .imited degree and thus the jaws will conform to irregularities in the bowl and irregularities in the pipe or other object which they to grip.

One of the main sets in the provision of he filling pieces or blocks 24.- andQG is to provide a secondary safety device holding the clips 20 and 22 in place in case the cotter pins 21 .121623 should accidentally become detached r lost. In actual practice, rotary slips are subjected to very rough handling by the operators on the rig. The usual custom is for the operator to pick up the slips and to throw them against the upstanding pipe, and. allow them to drop down into tile slip bushing or bowl. In removing the slips. it is the usual custom for the operator to lirt the slips out of the bushing and throw them on the derrick floor. The blocks 2%: and 26, therefore, are provided as precautions against the cl-clips breaking and a piece dropping down in the hole alon. do of the drill stem, which might cause the drill stem to stick, especially so when drilling inside of easing.

T he blocks Setand 26 are a further advantage in that they prevent vertical movement of the segments relative to each other or at least to limit the vertical movement, witnout putting any strain upon the cotter pins 21 and Preferably, the safety blocks 24 are provided with the rivets 525 instead of bolts for the reason that nuts might slip from the bolts into the hole when the slips are in place and this is particularly true when they are handled by a careless operator. .Vith rivets it is not so likely that they will come loose and as the lo ver end of the slips or the connection at the lower ends are the ones that would cause the greatest trouble, the rivets are used as a safety measure.

The pivot bolt 3 is to permit the handle, after the slip is in place in the slip bushing to drop backward fiat on top of the slip bushin or rotary table. his removes the handle away from the operator while placing the tongs around the pipe to screw it together or unscrewing the joints the case may be and provides for a clear space around the pipe for placing of the elevators, for raising or lowering the string, the pipe always sticking up a short distance above the slips for lacing the elevators in place. The nose 33 is provided to prevent the handle from tipiorwar'l leyond a certain line so that the operator mgcrs will not be caught betWOGi. the handle and the upstanding pipe the slips are swung into place. This provi Us for a rigid handle when he is elevated to the point where the "es the segments. This makes the i and the l mdle rigid. for movement in a ection. and easy to swing, the nose at all times preven g the handle from tip- .e-rward to a point behind the vertical ogether ments will be he d in circle so that the lower 0 ily entered into the the pipe to be held. Ti. J for the passage of the crmit a certain amount of is .3 l oveni r the segments so that tl may fall down into the tapered slip bu 'ng without putting any strain on the o -connections eitler at the top or bottom.

1 This permits t e in the taper. T claim 1. It slip including two conjoined slip sections having lateral walls, and means holding said slip sections together comprising separate shaped clips extending over the a lining walls of the sections at the top and bottom thereof and means for locking said clips in place.

2. A. slip including two conjoined slip sections having latex-e... walls, and means holding sai slip sections together comprising ti-shaped clips extending over the adjoining walls oi? the sections at the tog and bottom thereof, said clips being circular in cross section to permit the sections to oscillate relative to each other.

3. l slip including two conjoined sections, each said sections being termed with top wall, a bottom wall and a. side wall the side walls of ;he sections confront- ,lips to creep downward- 1 tions and holding these sections from separation, and means for locking said clips in place.

i. A slip including two conjoined sections, each oi said sections being formed with a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, the side walls of ne sections confronting each other, the top and bottom wall of each section each having an opening, each opening eing deiined by an upstanding wall extending around three sides of the opening, the open ends of the walls of the two sections confronting each other, and clips disposed within said openings and embracing the adjacent side walls of the sections and means for locking said clips in place.

5. A slip including two conjoined sections, each of said sections being former with a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, the side walls of the sections confront ing each other, the top and bottom wall of each section each having an opening, each opening being defined by an upstanding wall extending around three sides of the opening, the open ends of the walis of the two section confronting each other, clips disposed within said openings and embracing the adjacent side walls of he sections, and means for locking said clips in place, including cotter pins passing through the end extremities of the clips and bearing against the top and bottom walls of the sections.

6. A slip including two conjoined segment al sections, each having opposed side walls and bottom and top walls, each of the bottom and top walls adj acent'the side walls being termed with openings extending into the interior of the section, and each opening being surrounded on three sides by an upstanding wall defining a socket opening toward the side of the slip, U-shaped clips insertible through said openings to embrace said side walls of adjoining sections, each of said clips being circular in cross section, and means for lockin said clips in place.

7. A slip including two conjoined segmental sections, each having opposed side walls and bottom and top walls, each of the bottom and top walls adjacent the side walls being formedwith openings extending into the interior of the section, and each opening being surrounded on three sides by an upstanding wall defining a socketiopening toward the side of the slip, J-shaped clips insertible through said openings to embrace said side walls of adjoining sections, each of said clips being circular in cross section, locking members extending through the extremities of the clips and preventing accidental withdrawal of the clips from their engagement with the side walls and filling pieces inserted in said sockets outward of the clips, and means for detachably holding said filling pieces in place.

8. A slip lncluding two conjoined segmental sections, each having opposed side walls and bottom and top walls, each of the bottom and top walls adjacent the side walls being for-med with openings extending into the interior of the section, and each opening being surrounded ,on three sides by an upstanding wall defining a socket opening toward the side of the slip, U-shaped clips insert-ible through said openings to embrace said side walls of adjoining sections, each 0.1 said clips being circular in cross section, loosing members extending through the extremities of the clips and preventing accibeingsurrounded on three sides by an upstanding wall defining a socket opening toward the side ofthe slip, U-shaped clips 1nsertible through said openings to embrace vsaid side walls of adjoining sections, each of said clips being circular in cross section, locking members extending through the extremities of the clips and preventing accidental withdrawal of the clips from their engagement with the side walls and filling pieces inserted in said sockets outward of the clips, means for detachably holding said filling pieces in place, certain of the filling pieces being provided with outwardly projecting lugs, a bolt passing transversely through said lugs, and a handle having an eye through which the bolt passes, the eye being formed with an outwardly projecting nose constituting a stop limiting the rotational movement of the handle in one direction.

10. A slip including two conjoined hollow slip sections having lateral walls, and means holding said slip sections together comprising U-shaped members extending over and embracing the adjoining lateral walls of the sections.

11. A slip including two conjoined hollow slip sections having lateral walls, and means holding said slipsections together comprising U-shaped members extending over and embracing the adjoining walls of the sections, said members being circular in cross section to permit oscillation of the sections.

12. A slip including two conjoined slip sections having lateral confronting walls, the upper and lower ends of the sections having apertures disposed adjacent the lateral wallsw and separate U-shaped clips extending downward through the upper apertures of two sections and upward through the lower apertures of two sections and embracing said walls, whereby to hold the slip sections conjoined, and means for locking said clips in place.

13. A slip including two conjoined slip sections having lateral confronting walls, the upper and lower ends of the sect-ions having apertures disposed adjacent the lateral walls and separate U-shaped clips extending downward through the upper apertures of two sections and upward through the lower apertures of two sections and embracing said walls, whereby to hold the slip sections conjoined, and means for locking said clips in place, the apertures through which the legs of the U-shaped clips pass being substantially larger than the legs of the clips in order to permit the relative movement between the sections and the clips.

14. A slip including two conjoined segmental sections, each having opposed side walls, means for detachably engaging said sections with each other, lugs projecting upwardly from adjacent portions of two sections, :1 bolt passing transversely through the lugs, and a handle having an eye through which the bolt passes, the eye being formed with an outwardly projecting nose constituting a stop limiting the rotational movement of the handle in one direction.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

LEE J. BLACK. 

